Construction Assistance Awards Announced$317 million to be injected into state economy for local school projects

OLYMPIA — July 21, 2016 — State Superintendent Randy Dorn today announced the release of nearly $317 million in capital construction money – made available by the legislature and approved by the Gov. Jay Inslee – to school districts throughout the state.

The money, coupled with nearly $748 million in local school district funds generally available by capital bonds approved by voters in communities, will bring more than $1.1 billion into the state’s economy through school construction.

“Maintaining and updating school buildings is a partnership between the state and school districts,” Dorn said. “The release of the capital construction money shows that the partnership works, and that students will learn in up-to-date, working school buildings. I thank the Legislature and Gov. Inslee for their work on this.”

A total of 28 districts are ready to begin or continue work on 39 new school buildings or school modernization projects.

Many factors determined whether a project received funding, including specific school district criteria regarding enrollments, assessed property values, and existing inventory. Details of the application process can be found in the School Facilities Manual.

The state’s school construction assistance program also includes approximately $1.1 million, which will fund public art allocations for new facilities.

About OSPI
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K–12 education in Washington state. Led by State School Superintendent Randy Dorn, OSPI works with the state’s 295 school districts and nine educational service districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students.

OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director at (360) 725-6162 or P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200.